Along the Ramparts of the Tetons: The Saga of Jackson Hole, Wyoming

This is the book for the best and most concise and interesting "guide" history of Jackson's Hole. I have been an interpretive guide in Jackson's Hole for 6 years and I use the stories in this book to help folks understand the story of the area.

This is a well-written history of Jackson Hole, Wyoming, from its geography to the concerns its residents have today about unlimited growth. Robert Betts writes about the earliest explorers, the coming of the fur trappers, early settlers, homesteaders, the development of the dude ranch, and the bitter debates that eventually led to the formation of Teton National Park. More detailed chapters include fascinating accounts of John Colter, perhaps the first white man to view the Tetons; thumbnail sketches of some of the more famous mountainmen criss-crossing Jackson Hole before the Civil War; some local legends involving the likes of Nick Wilson and Beaver Dick; the disastrous and foolish Doane expedition along the Snake River in the winter of 1876; the summer (1883) President Chester A. Arthur visited the area with members of his cabinet to hunt and fish; the problems the sheepmen faced when they came to the valley; and the recent settlers who display the rugged individualism of their ancestors. Though relating the history of the Jackson Hole area, Betts is just as concerned with presenting a captivating and entertaining narrative, which he succeeds in doing marvelously. Many illustrations grace the text. Anyone with any interest in the Jackson Hole area will find this book worth reading.